Monthly Archives: April 2013
Larry Avery Sees Opportunities For Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board
Larry Avery is a man who sees opportunity where others may see only a meal. And he will create opportunities while bringing decades of business-building acumen and branding savvy to the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board as its new seafood processor representative. “I know and understand the problems and opportunities facing our business,” said Avery, 61, a managing partner of Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood with over 30 years of professional experience. continued
Renovated Damariscotta Mills Maine fish ladder ‘a magic thing’
NOBLEBORO, Maine — When the alewives return in the next few weeks to Salt Bay at the head of the Damariscotta River, ready for the arduous journey leaping from pool to pool to reach Damariscotta Lake for spawning, they’ll find a new fish ladder to ease their passage. continued
As I search for news, I find this today. The long reach of Pew Charitable Trust Pablum
It’s Monday. 7:32am. I’ve been searching for news for over an hour. This is my second post today. My last post for 4/14/2013 was at 22:56 last night. It’s a slow news day so far, but I find this Over Fishing – Should the number of people who fish for fun be limited? As this ScienCentral News video explains, that’s the contention of scientists who have found figures that show that recreational fishing has a much bigger impact than originally thought. Then this at the bottom – This research appeared in the September 24, 2004 issue of the journal Science and was funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. link
Hagfish “slime eels,” might be North Olympic Peninsula’s next fishery boon
A new, relatively untapped fishery is growing on the North Olympic Peninsula, with at least two fish distributors planning to expand hagfish operations to supply Asian markets. Hagfish, also known as “slime eels,” are not eaten in the U.S. but are a popular food in South Korea, Brandt Koo, general manager of Five Ocean Seafoods Inc., told Port of Port Angeles commissioners last week. continued
Warm ocean waters worry lobstermen
PORTLAND – Ocean temperatures have been higher than normal in the Gulf of Maine, creating worries among lobstermen that there could be a repeat of last spring’s early harvest that resulted in a market glut, a crash in the prices fishermen get and a blockade of Maine-caught lobsters in Canada. continued
Fishermen questioning plan to open new areas
The proposal would open up portions of protected sections of the Gulf of Maine to commercial fishing. The plan is facing stiff opposition from parts of the fishing industry, environmentalists and conservationists. continued
Ottawa withholding reports on B.C. wild salmon
Published – Key scientific documents needed before the department of Fisheries and Oceans can implement its plan to save British Columbia’s wild salmon have been held up in Ottawa for a year. The documents, concerning sockeye conservation units on the Fraser River, were withheld from the Cohen Commission even though they were substantially ready for release at the time the federal inquiry was under way. continued
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update APRIL 14, 2013
“The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the update
Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association – Maryland Watermen’s symposium set at Chesapeake College April 18
EASTON — A symposium to educate the public on the economic impact the commercial fishing industry brings to Maryland will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Rufus M. and Loraine Hall Todd Performing Arts Center at the Wye Mills campus of Chesapeake College. continued
Eel fishery hearings in Maine rescheduled
(AP) – The ASMFC is holding hearings from Maine to Georgia that kick off Monday in New Hampshire. The proposed regulations are the result of a stock assessment that concluded the eel population is technically depleted. continued
Crab Detectives
SitNews – Did you know that red king crabs are cannibals and eat their babies, but blue king crabs do not? Or that deep water golden king crabs along the Aleutian Islands are almost indestructible and appear to resist the effects of ocean acidification? continued
Elver eel fishery boom generates memories of 1990s urchin bust
Elvers, the spaghetti-thin transparent juvenile American eels, may be the most sought-after commercial marine species in Maine right now, but they are not the first to rocket to prominence due to demand in the Far East. continued
As grim fishing year approaches, New England’s fishing fleet tries to deal with new catch limits – “What are people doing to help the industry?”
BOSTON – Deep cuts in catch limits will hit New England’s fishing fleet in less than three weeks, and there’s little hint any real relief is coming. But regulators and fishermen are still seeking ways to lessen a blow fishermen warn will finish them off. As time grows short, Gloucester’s Al Cottone said he and his fellow fishermen seem to be facing the future in a sort of “state of shock.” “Everyone’s in denial. They still think, you know, someone’s going to come in on their white horse and save us,” he said. “No one knows what they’re going to do,” he said. “Nobody.” continued
Noise Pollution from an Ocean Idustrialization Shill
Pollution: Learning the Limits for Marine Species
Work by biologists and marine scientists at various Norwegian research institutions over the past 10 years has covered such commercial resources as shrimp, scallops, herring and cod. continued
Sealers rescued near Harbour Round
CBC News – Two seal hunters are safe after their vessel became wedged in the ice near Harbour Round this week. continued
Florida – Bill passed to eliminate fuel tax for commercial fishing
The fishing business is expected to grow and create new jobs, now that lawmakers have passed a commercial fishing and aquacultural purposes bill that will reduce the cost of doing business in the industry. The Legislature’s passage of the Tax on Sales, Use and Other Transactions bill on Friday means that taxes will be waived on dyed diesel fuel used in the marine industry. continued
State of Alaska Denies Herring Forage Fish Status
SitNews – Currently Pacific herring are acknowledged as a keystone forage fish species that is responsible for maintaining the health of the marine ecosystem in the waters of California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia (BC). As you cross the maritime boundary between BC and Alaska herring lose their forage fish status and become just another commercially harvested finfish. continued
Gulf oil spill’s effects still has seafood industry nervous
Three years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry is still holding its breath and expecting the worst. After all, sick fish are still turning up off Louisiana. Scientists are still probing potential problems with crabs and shrimp. “There’s still a lot of nervousness,” said Bob Jones of the Southeastern Fisheries Association, a commercial fishing trade group based in Tallahassee. continued
NOAA swordfish plan met with opposition at public meeting
If the U.S. government wants to create new opportunities to harvest more swordfish in order to fulfill its international quota by creating a new open-access commercial handgear permit, it should happen anywhere but South Florida. continued
Dead salmon found along muddy Elwha River after hatchery release
Staff at the department’s Elwha Channel hatchery released 196,575 juvenile fish, ranging from 4 inches to 8 inches in length April 5, about 3½ miles from the mouth of the river, said Randy Aho, hatchery operations manager for the Fish and Wildlife region that stretches from the Long Beach Peninsula to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sediment coursing down the Elwha has been freed by the removal process for the once-towering Elwha dams, part of a $325 million river restoration project still under way. continued
Salmon Confidential—How a Canadian Government Cover-Up Threatens Your Health, and the Entire Ecosystem
Many environmental experts have warned about the unsustainability of fish farms for a decade now, and we have documented those objections in many previous articles. Unfortunately nothing has yet been done to improve the system. As usual, government agencies and environmental organizations around the world turned a blind eye to what was predicted to become an absolute disaster, and now the ramifications can be seen across the globe, including in British Columbia, Canada. continued
UPDATE: Fishing vessel aground in Digby Gut
A fishing vessel, F/V Chief Charles Paul, a scallop dragger, is aground in Digby Gut waiting for high water to refloat it. continued
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing – Commerce, NOAA
Apr 12, 2013 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) — INTRODUCTION Chairwoman Mikulski, Vice Chairman Shelby, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be here to discuss President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Commerce for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. continued
Wally Ericson – A Truely Interesting Guy. A former dredger recalls shaping the Pinellas coast
Before Wally Ericson made a career from boatbuilding and fishing, which took him as far north as Canada and as far south as Nicaragua, and before he and Nancy raised their three children while operating Ericson Marine in Tarpon Sp
rings, he worked as a dredger. He and his dredge created the foundation for many of the waterfront communities in Pinellas County. continued
Trials set to begin in Alaska subsistence fishing case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sam Jackson believes a favorable trial verdict for him and other Alaska Natives cited for illegally fishing king salmon could help his people reclaim the subsistence rights they’ve enjoyed for thousands of years. continued
Good news from the Gulf of Mexico – will the Green Taliban rejoice or grieve? – or Crackers in New zealand!
There is a heartwarming BBC report of research showing that nature largely detoxified BP’s Deepwater Horizon contamination of the Gulf of Mexico within 18 months. The conclusions are astonishing, and far less qualified and far less qualified than one would expect for such a significant reversal of previous beliefs. continued
Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the appointment of five local residents to state boards
Dan Davis, of Houma, will serve on the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Lance Nacio, of Montegut, was reappointed to the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force. continued
Our View : Legislature should permit lobster by-catch
Portland’s wharves tell the story of Maine’s struggling groundfish industry. Where dozens of commercial fishing boats once tied up, you might find only one or two today. That is mostly a result of the collapse of groundfish stocks and their slow rebound under tight federal regulations. New England is asking for disaster relief funds for the fishery — and it’s a disaster not just for the fishermen, but also for the businesses that sold them food, gas and ice, repaired their engines and sold and processed their catch.
But that’s not the whole story. continued
